FARRELL, WHEATLAND

Dad: Graduation noisy

Badolato, of Farrell, said there were a lot of people who came in late, talked during the ceremony and didn’t heed Principal Frank Sincek’s request to settle down.

Mind you, Badolato didn’t have a problem with the students. Their conduct was exemplary, he said. It was the adults who threatened to ruin the ceremony for him.

"I was embarrassed by the behavior," he told the school board Monday. "There was a ridiculous amount of people in the audience who didn’t give a damn about the others there to see their sons, grandsons graduate. This wasn’t a basketball game. We weren’t playing for the championship."

Badolato, a 1963 Farrell graduate, said he understands that problems with the public address system probably fueled some of the behavior, and some exuberance can be forgiven. But administrators have to stop the ceremony if people don’t quiet down and remove those who don’t comply.

Sincek said he sent out a letter to graduates’ families prior to commencement outlining unacceptable behavior.

Superintendent Richard R. Rubano Jr. said he could not see more than five rows from the stage because of the intense lights focused on the stage. While he received positive comments about the ceremony, there seems to be a lapse in decorum at many public events, such as movies and concerts, he said.

"There are a lot of people who have other priorities."

Badolato responded that the district must "raise the bar" on unacceptable decorum.

"I understand it goes on everywhere," he said. "Someone has to say, ‘It’s not going to happen here.’ Respect these kids."

Badolato added that while he heard his son’s name mentioned, he felt bad for families who couldn’t hear a graduate’s name.

Director Larry Manilla said he believes the malfunctioning public address system caused "a great deal" of the problem.

Rubano said it worked fine in practice.

Director Lester Robinson Jr. said the "exceptionally large turnout" also played a role in the crowd problem, and suggested more ushers be in place next year.

Rubano said prior to the 2001 commencement he will address the audience about acceptable behavior.